Hydroponic Medium Switching for Odor-Free Strawberry Cultivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydroponics in plant factories face issues with algae development and odor attachment to fruits, particularly in crops like strawberries, which can lead to lower quality produce.
Innovation Solution
A cultivation method involving hydroponics with a medium switch from seed germination to fruit formation using clay pebbles, combined with a drainage system and air filtration, and a process of baking reused pebbles to remove organic matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hydroponics is used for plant cultivation in a plant factory, then soil preparation is not required and plant diseases and pests can be prevented, but algae easily develop and attach odor to fruits
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the cultivation medium by switching from water-based hydroponics to clay pebble-based substrate. This parameter change fundamentally alters the environment for algae growth, preventing them from developing and attaching odor to fruits while maintaining the ease of cultivation setup inherent in hydroponic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the cultivation process into two distinct phases: an initial hydroponic phase for seed germination and early growth, followed by a clay pebble substrate phase for fruit formation. This segmentation allows the system to enjoy the benefits of water-based hydroponics during early stages while preventing algae-related issues during fruit development stages.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If clay pebbles are used as planting material, then algae development is suppressed, but the system requires medium switching and additional drainage components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a drainage net as an intermediary component between the clay pebble medium and the drainage path. This mesh structure serves as a mediator that allows water to pass through while preventing clay pebbles from entering the drainage system, thereby suppressing algae development without requiring complex drainage mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the cultivation system with appropriate drainage structures and medium selection before cultivation begins. The drainage net is installed in advance, and clay pebbles of specific sizes are selected beforehand, which simplifies the overall system operation and reduces the need for complex medium switching mechanisms during cultivation.
3Loss of substance
If clay pebbles are reused after baking, then waste is reduced and costs are lowered, but the process requires additional baking treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the discarding and recovering principle by collecting used clay pebbles after harvest, baking them to eliminate organic matter and odors, and then reusing them as planting material for the next cultivation cycle. This process significantly reduces waste and lowers costs associated with purchasing new clay pebbles, while the baking step ensures the recycled material remains suitable for plant cultivation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method ensures high-quality fruits by preventing algae growth and maintaining environmental control, while also reducing waste and costs through pebble recycling.
Implementation Method 1
A drainage net with a size of a mesh that does not allow the clay pebbles to pass through may be disposed between the medium and the drainage path
Implementation Method 2
Air in the room that is drawn into the air conditioner may pass through the pre-filter before passing through the air conditioning filter
Implementation Method 3
the method may include a process of baking used clay pebbles, and the baked clay pebbles may be reused as the planting material
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a plant cultivation method suitable for growing plants in a plant factory and also enabling the acquisition of fruits with good quality. The plant cultivation method includes: growing the plants from seeds by hydroponics from germination to before fruit formation, i.e., until a predetermined medium switching time; and, when the medium switching time comes, moving the plants to a medium where a foamed brick stone is used as a planting material and continuing growing the plants by hydroponics.